School Wide Recycling Program Leaves OMHS

“Most people would be surprised how much could be recycled” says Dr. Strong. With the abolition of Oak Mountain High School’s school wide recycling, many students are left wondering what happened to the program, and how they can remain environmentally conscious.

In 2010, OMHS began its short lived recycling program. It is estimated that over the past 8 years, with this program in effect, around 10 tons of paper and thousands of plastic bottles were recycled. The tremendous amount of cardboard boxes that were used to transport food to the cafeteria and school supplies to each classroom were also being recycled. And although the program was well received by the students and faculty, there were problems that led to its eventual end.

One of the main problems with the execution of a school wide recycling program was that true garbage (food and other non recyclables) was being put into the recycling bins and contaminating the items that could be recycled. The other major problem is that OMHS now would have to pay a $100 fee every month, when there used be no fee at all.

If the student body would like to reinstate the recycling program, a club or organization would need to be formed to pay the monthly fees, provide the recycling bins, and sort out the recyclables from the true trash.

The abolition of the recycling program at our school is indicative about the apathetic tone our society has towards environmental issues. If recycling was a more lucrative trade, or people valued the planet they inhabit more, perhaps recycling would be common place in every school, every home, and with all people. As Dr. Strong said, “We should all be good stewards of our planet and citizens of our community and recycle.”